Top-opening paperboard container



Jan- 26, 1960 w. J. RoDERlcK ErAL 2,922,565

Top-OPENING PAPERBOARD CONTAINER v Filed Dec. 2s. 1957 United States Patent() T OP-OPENING PAPERBOARD CONTAINER l Application December 23, 1957, Serial No. 704,695

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) This invention relates to paperboard containers having reclosable top closures, and more particularly to a paperboard container especially adapted for iiling letters and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a letter le container of simple inexpensive construction; the provision of a container having a hinged top closure panel which is readily opened and reclosed; the provision of a container of this type wherein the top closure panel automatically' locks upon closure and which lock is readily released; and the provision of a container of the character disclosed which is substantially dust-tight.

Although other features of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, briey, the container of thisinvention comprises an outer body with front, back and end panels joined together as a tube and with bottom closure flaps. A top closure is formed by a top panel hinged to the back wall, the top panel then having depending front and end flanges. The upper edge of the front wall is lower than the corresponding edge of' the back wall by an amount equal to the downward projection of the front flange on the top panel. Angle cuts extend across the end walls from the upper edge of the -front wall to the top of the back wall. |I'he end flanges on the top closure are similarly cut on an angle, which corresponds approximately with that of the end walls, although the end tianges vmay overlap slightly with respect to the end walls, if desired. An inner body section in the form of a tube is telescoped within thekouter body, and this inner body extends above the outer front and end walls, at least at the front corners. Theinner front wall may be recessed along its upper edge for convenient access to the contents, but more particularly, `V- shapedfcuts are made in the inner end walls so as to provide locking tabs projecting from the inner front wall laterally beyond the inner end walls. The locking tabs, in turn, engage within openings similarly rformed in the end anges of the top closure, thereby to lock the top panel in its closed position. Preferably, the top end flanges are integral extensions from the top panel and have corner flaps adhesively secured to the top front flange. The end flanges may have U-shaped cuts, which form end openings when the corner flaps are folded inwardly for attachment to the front iiange. As such, the top closure has projecting members extending endwise on the inner body, which outer projections overlie and protect the locking tabs.

Preferably, angled scores are made across the top front flange, and the corner aps are secured only to the resulting triangular end sections of the front flange. The scores are such that the center portion of the front ange tends to bow inwardly, thereby drawing the end flanges toward one another for more convenient locking engagement. The carton is conveniently opened by pressing the outer front wall inwardly, so as to spring the locking members toward one another and release the top closure, which then tends to spring upwardly on its hinge.

2,922,565 Patented Jan. 26, 1960 Other features of the invention will in part be apparent from and in part pointed out in the following detailed description taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a die cut and scored blank for forming the outer body of the container;

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing how the Fig. l blank is formed into a collapsible tube;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a die cut and scored blank for forming the inner body of the container;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing `the inner body in its collapsed tube-like condition;

Fig. 5 illustrates the inner body in its opened condition;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing the outer body of the container opened to receive thel Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a blank of paperboard or other semi-rigid material for an outer body, which has been die cut and scored. Scoresv 1 and 3 define a back wall 5 with anend wall 7 hinged along score 1 at one end of the blank. Another end wall 9 is hinged at score 3 and a front wall 11 is then hinged to the end wall 9 along a score 13. The front wall,11

is provided with a marginal tiap 15 defined by the score.

17, it being understood that the ap 15 at one end of the blank is then adhesively secured to the end wall 7 at the other end of the blank in order to form a tube as shown in Fig. 2. k

The bottom portion of the blank, as defined by a score 19' extending the length thereof, is cut at 21 to 'define end closure iiaps 23, 25, 27 and 29 hinged respectively to the back wall 3, end wall 7, end wall 9 and front wall 11. The top portion of the blank is die cut and scored" to provide a top closure generally designated 3&1, the top closure being hinged to the back wall.

More particularly, there is a jscore 33 deiiningthe up-V" per edge of the back wall 3 and by means'of which a top panel 35 is hinged to the back wall. This top panel is of a dimension such as. to extend completely across the top. A marginal strip portion 37 is then hinged 'along score 39 to the front edge of the top wall 35, thereby to form a front flange as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The top panel 35 also has end marginal or flange portions 41 of a triangular outline, these end portions, in turn, having corner aps 43 defined by scores 45, U-shaped cuts 47 and cuts at 46. The flaps 43 are adapted to be adhesively secured to triangular end sections 49 of the front ange 37. It will be noted the front -liange has angular scores 51 extending thereacross in convergentrelationship so as to define the triangular end sections 49. The scores 51 are indented inwardly with reference to the nished container so that the front iiange has a tendency to bow inwardly.

In assembly, the flaps 43 are adhesively secured only to the triangular sections 49, with the result that end lianges 41 of the top closure are drawn toward one another a slight amount by the bowed front ange 37. This condition facilitates locking of the top in its closed position.

The end walls 7 and 9 of the outer body are cut at 53 on an angle so as to define forwardly sloping upper edges.

3 The upper edge 55 of the front wall 5 is then cut so that it lies substantially below the upper edge or hinge line 33 of the back wall 3.

The Fig. l blank is adapted to form an outer body as shown in Fig. 6 with a flip-Hop closure. Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a second blank for forming an inner body or tube adapted to telescope snugly within the outer body formed from the Fig. l blank. The height of the inner body corresponds approximately to the height of the back wall 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the blank is transversely scored at 61 to define a front wall 63, end walls 65, a back wall 67 and a tube-forming flap 69. The ap 69 at one end of the Fig. 2. blank is adhesively secured to the end wall at the other end to complete the tube.

The front wall 63 of the inner body is recessed along its upper edge, as shown in 71. Also, locking tabs '73 are formed as end-wise projections or continuations of the front wal1'63 by V-shaped cuts 75, it being understood that the transverse scores 61 are interrupted opposite the tabs so that openings 75 are formed at the end walls when .the inner body is opened as shown in Fig. 5.

These tabs are adapted to cooperate with tab-receiving slots defined by the U-shaped cuts 47 in the end portions of the top closure 31. The scores 45 are interrupted at 4the cuts 47, so that tab-like projections 48 extend endwise from the front a'nge 37 when the corner aps 43 are folded inwardly, thereby leaving the openings or slots 47. It will be noted the projections 48 overlie and thereby protect the locking tabs 73 from being inadvertently bent or pushed inwardly.

In setting up this container, the collapsed outer body of Fig. 2 is opened and the bottom closure flaps are adhesively secured as illustrated in Fig. 6. The inner body of Fig. 4 is then opened, as shown in Fig. 5, and is inserted into the outer body through the open top. In assembly, the inner body section projects somewhat above the outer front and end walls. When the top closure is pushed down to its closed position, the locking tabs 73 on the inner body automatically engage within the slots 47 in the end flanges of the top closure, so that the top panel is locked in its closed position. As explained previously, the bowed condition of the front ange draws the end flanges inwardly so as to .facilitate cooperation with the locking tabs. It may also be noted that the inner body tends to preclude dust from entering between the lower edge of the top closure and the upper edges of the outer front and end walls.

The closure is conveniently opened by pressing the outer front wall 5 inwardly immediately below the top closure or front ange 37. When the outer front wall is pressed inwardly, the front wall 63 of the inner body is 4 also sprung inwardly, thereby drawing the end walls and locking tabs 73 toward one another. As the locking tabs 73 are drawn inwardly, they move clear of the associated locking slots 47, whereupon the top closure tends to spring upwardly, at least a slight amount.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that those skilled in the art will understand the structure, function and mode of operation of the invention herein disclosed, yand appreciate the advantages thereof. Although one embodiment has been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but the drawings and description thereof are to be understood as being merely illustrative. It is realized .that many modifications 'and variations will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container of the character set forth comprising an outer body portion having front, back and end walls, an inner body portion having front and end walls which project at least in part above the outer front and end walls, a top closure having a top panel hinged to the outer back wall, said top closure further having depending front and end anges adapted to overlie the upper portions of said inner front and end walls and expose the outer front wall, slots formed in said top-closure end flanges, and locking tabs formed to project endwise from said upper projecting portions of the inner front wall for locking cooperation with said slots, thereby releasably to retain the top closure panel in its closed position, said front flange being scored adjacentV its ends to produce an inward bow in the front ange, thereby to draw the end iianges toward one another.

2. A 'container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scores in the front flange extend in convergent angular relationship from the upper ends of the front ange toward the lower edge thereof, thereby defining triangular sections at the ends of the front flange, and corner llaps extending from said end flanges and adhesively secured only to the triangular sections of the front flange.

References Cited in the tile of this patent vUNITED STATES PATENTS 149,889 Smith Apr. 2l, 1874 2,623,684 Collura Dec. 30, 1952 2,824,684 Ahlers Feb. 2S, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 108,641 L AGreat Britain Sept. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFCATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2Y922565 January 26 1960 Wayne J, Roderick et al.

It is herebjr certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column Sq line Sq for "flip-flop" read flip-top Signed and sealed this 9th day of August 1960 (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H o AXLI NE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ofcer Commissioner of Patents 

